M. E. Kabay, PhD, CISSP-ISSMP
Professor of Computer Information Systems
School of Business & Management
College of Professional Schools
Norwich University

A friend from Canada wrote to me to explain that he was completely inexperienced with electronic social media even though he is passionately interested in politics. He feared having his political views used against him at the US border. After I responded to his message, it seemed possible that the comments below might be helpful to others who hesitate even to have an account on Facebook, let alone post anything to it.

You do NOT need to post ANYTHING at all - whether private or political – on a Facebook account. You are entitled to have a completely empty page, but you will still be able to "follow" sources that are interesting. Create an account but don't click on the "like" buttons of articles you see.

There are about 450 people who find my digest of valuable articles helpful; sources include the Guardian, Nation, Atlantic, New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and Science Alert; several conservation organizations (e.g., National Wildlife Federation, Humane Society, Wilderness Society, and so on); civil-rights organizations (e.g., ACLU, SPLC, ADL, CAIR, HRC...); and thoughtful analysts (e.g., Robert Reich...).

I almost always post excerpts from the articles to which I link because I read them in detail before deciding to post links.

You may be find the following articles useful in deciding whether to take advantage of Facebook:

· To My Non-Posting Friends on Facebook < http://tinyurl.com/y9sxs846 >

· Understanding Facebook Privacy < http://tinyurl.com/y8yc3d3b >

· How to use Facebook while giving it the minimum amount of personal data < http://tinyurl.com/yawb3g96 >

Rebecca Herold, the Privacy Professor < http://rebeccaherold.com/ > has kindly contributed the following additional resources that you may find interesting::

· Who Has Your Data? < http://tinyurl.com/ycpgumll >

· Some tips for protecting privacy on social media (video): < http://tinyurl.com/y98xfwmt >

· Guest on Shared Security Podcast discussing privacy on social media < http://tinyurl.com/y994kfl5 >

· Address Privacy During Social Media Marketing < http://tinyurl.com/y7dyvlbv >

· What the Facebook Data Misuse Could Mean for Credit Unions & Members < http://tinyurl.com/y8yz2ht8 >

· From the Pew Research Center: “Americans’ complicated feelings about social media in an era of privacy concerns” < http://tinyurl.com/y9psfuyb >

· From Elsevier: “Hidden Privacy Risks in Sharing Pictures on Social Media” < http://tinyurl.com/yamwkgql >

· BBB: “Social Media Safety: Personal Data Protection Tips for Kids” < http://tinyurl.com/y7cbheyl >

· BBB: “Scam Alert: Misleading Social Ads Fool Shoppers” < http://tinyurl.com/yboodjpv >

If you do decide to join the 2.19 billion active users of FB [See "Number of monthly active Facebook users worldwide as of 1st quarter 2018 (in millions)" < http://tinyurl.com/zb8u3rq >] you may safely find lots of helpful and stimulating information and discussion as well as total rubbish.

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Alternatively, you can try developing your own social-media system using cuneiform writing on clay tablets distributed to all three members of your new group using mule trains. <g,d&r>*

HTH!**

Mich

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* "Grin, duck & run"

** Hope this helps

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